The Real NYC

The choice was either for Pop to come down here for a visit or for us to make the trek to NY. The better choice is always to see more people at a time but having to travel solo with two little ones wasn't really on my agenda. A JetBlue sale and a little motivation from a friend, not to mention seeing family, pushed me to take the plunge. I have done a lot of things even in the past nine months that I didn't think I could do. And I did them anyway. Who am I to say no because I'm fearful, unsure or just not in the mood? That's not me. That's why I took a 3 1/2 year old and 8 month old on a plane by myself. Eeek!

We talked for weeks about this trip to NY. Nathan is getting good at naming things and places and he really wanted to see NYC. I introduced the idea of seeing a real live space shuttle and he was over the moon with excitement. I was too. But we had to get through the weeks before the trip.

Our lives are BUSY! It all happened at once - Great Wolf Lodge, birthdays, making dinner for a friend with a new baby, Pumpkin Patch Trip with school, hair appointment, Girls Night Out, Vendor Night with Uppercase Living AND hosting a baby shower the Saturday morning we were leaving for NY. Looking back at that week I don't know how we did it all. No wonder I'm still exhausted. When it rains it pours. It's true. But I knew the NY trip was the pay off. Well, not the travel part but being there anyway.

Leo came into the airport with us. We checked the bag, got our tickets and said our goodbyes. I was worried earlier in the day because the flight was already delayed in the early afternoon. The time went back and forth and eventually went back to its original time only to be delayed last minute due to a clogged toilet. Awesome. Finally we board. I picked seats all the way in the back to be away from people, close to a bathroom and for privacy for nursing. In theory this is genius. If only the clogged toilet wasn't the one at the back of the plane. I prayed there would be no need for a bathroom trip anyway. With a baby strapped to me and the other little boy just anxious to be there already, it was a lot to juggle. We settle into our seats, we FINALLY take off and find something to watch (Thank you DirectTV and JetBlue!) and I hear "I have to go potty." No, please. Anything but that!

I regretfully wake Benny in the process of getting up as we trudge up the aisle in a very shaky plane to find the bathroom. You know how it's tough for one person to use a toilet in an airplane? It's, like, really, really, rough for three. Nathan does his business and thankfully I don't have to do much but hold onto Benny and assist in hand washing and flushing in a cramped and unfamiliar environment. Back to our seats we go.

When we were landing, Nathan kept looking out the window to see the lights. I wished it was daylight so he could take it all in. I wonder if he really would have been able to identify the place just from seeing the familiar buildings. He took my word for it anyway and exclaimed, "It's the real New York City!" The passengers around us were amused by his wonder.

We land and Uncle Timmy finds us. Luggage comes, we find Pop (in his big new truck) and happily we head towards Valley Cottage. If only the story could have ended with a gentle transaction of kids to beds. Not. Though it was getting late, (almost) everyone was up and wanting to see us. Half sleepy boys were not amused. They both clung to me. One cried. The other followed suit. It was over. I rushed them upstairs to get PJ's on and into bed but it was too late. The chaos started and I was lost. Pop, JoJo, Uncle Joey and Tim tried to help. PJ's and diapers were being tossed. I called Leo to help with Nathan's cries of "I want Daddy" only to have the phone thrown and me explaining over the noise that I had to go. "I can't hear you and I don't know what's going on!" (Sorry for waking you Aunt Jen!) Finally, peace was restored when everyone was dressed and the promise of bed was on the horizon. It helped that Nathan was offered toys and Benny a boob. We all slept in one bed and survived the night. I just kept thinking - we're just tired. We just need some rest.

The rest of the time was fine and less dramatic by far. Sunday, people were in and out and we enjoyed all the goodness that NY food has to offer. Big sandwiches, apples pies, and fresh ravioli from Arthur Avenue. Yay carbs!

Monday we rose early to go to NYC. Greg, Danielle and Lily joined us for a visit to the Intrepid - and more importantly - the space shuttle, Enterprise. Nathan, by the way, is very into space. He has planets all over his room, books in his book case and for Halloween he will be an astronaut of course. This was a perfect destination for our little adventurer. After we spent time there (for free - thank you Cousin Kristen for the family pass from the library!) we went back to Pop's truck where the kids jumped around in the bed of the truck for a while and ate lunch. All three of them played with the rope and romped around like it was the best new hang out around. It's like giving a kid a box. So simple yet so fascinating!

Tuesday we hung around to catch up on naps and then went apple picking at Dr. Davies. I hope Pop and JoJo wanted all those apples. We could only take a few home! Still, Nathan is an outdoorsy kid and natural tree-climber so this was another perfect thing to do. We had a nice warm afternoon for it. We followed this up with a visit to the Nanuet Library where my Nannie and Aunt Ruth have some quilts up on display. If you have been to my house you have seen, and maybe even slept under, one of these beauties. They are so talented.

Wednesday was our day of departure but having such a late flight we packed in another day. The boys spent time at Grandpa Trucks while I went out for a while on my own. Benny was asleep in Grandpa's arms and Nathan was happily gobbling down candy - sure signs they had a good time!

The late flight (9:50p!) was one I dreaded all day. Regular afternoon naps didn't happen and we were all on the cranky side. But we made it. When we walked to the gate, we boarded right away. Despite Nathan's constant need to pee (we mastered this three person phone-booth style circus already), the flight wasn't too painful. People are so nice when you have small children. Especially sleeping ones. A woman in front of me asked how I would get them out of the plane. I wasn't sure. If only I could have carried them both without waking them. But the promise of Daddy on the other end was good motivation and keep Nathan focused (after a little freak out getting off the plane - right in the aisle. Fun times.). What can I say? You can't dwell on the bad stuff. We made it home in one piece and it was worth the ride. Every time I do something I wasn't sure I would get through I feel stronger, better prepared and like an all-around Super Mom. But really, life just moves forward. If you roll with the punches and hang on for the ride, you get to where you're going eventually. Having a big smile on when you get there fools everyone into thinking it was a piece of cake!